Top Law Schools

first_world_problems wrote:Hi Everyone*,

So this has been addressed a few times, but I feel my case may be slightly different. On top of that, I have more questions about the whole ordeal of choosing between Harvard and Yale.

I aspire to be a legal academic! Before you say go to Yale, let me say this: aspiring is one thing; executing is another. Because I have not started law school nor do I know much about it, I have a feeling I might change my mind--I might in fact want to go corporate and be partner aka models and bottles! Alright, but in all seriousness, the following track is what I am thinking: law school and maybe an LLM at Cambridge (3-4 years) --> clerkship CoA and/or SCOTUS (1-4 years)** --> law firm ie Wachtell (2-4 years) --> academia. Since this is an idealized version, I am sure things can change. Maybe I won't get a clerkship, maybe I won't get into a law firm, maybe....

OK, so there were some TLS and above-the-law articles about Harvard v. Yale. Here are some points: I don't care about the MBA, and I don't care about the international presence. Here is what I care about: chilling out, little competition, fawk grades (I'm past that, and I know neither grades, but Yale has that great 1st semester brilliance and no set curve), fawk location (cambridge is better but whatever), doing research on topics I like, best clerkship placement opportunities, best firm placement opportunities, etc. By the way, if anyone can direct me to statistics on clerkship placements from either Harvard or Yale, I'd really appreciate it.

And here is the caveat: I have some strong connections at Harvard because of some research. I'm a pretty sociable gal, so I don't think I'll have trouble making connections at Yale. In fact, I am willing to keep my connections at Harvard by traveling by train (~2 hours) to continue working with some Harvard faculty, so I guess what I am asking is, "Is it not possible to maintain my relationships at Harvard as a JD student at Yale?" Oh, and son-of-a-gun does Harvard have some great interdisciplinary research and multiple centers...so much so that my interests (as they stand today) are only catered to by Harvard.

Strategically, my gut feeling tells me that Yale is the best option. I think I just really wants numbers (and advice!) at this point. What is the placement for clerkships at Yale v. Harvard? Will Wachtell want a Yalie more than a Harvard grad? How much more will Yale benefit me? Can't I somehow bridge the two bastards and eat most of the pie?

Oh and just for all the people who might post the "First World Problem" memes: I am grateful for this opportunity to choose between two awesome schools, and it pains me to make such difficult decisions.

So just to recap: I aspire to do academia, I have connections at Harvard, I want the best for me long-term, I need strategy, and I am grateful for my first world problems, and I thank all for respondin'.

*This message has been sponsored by first_world_problems, and she is officially dizz-er-unk! Also, I apologize for any spelling/grammatical errors--I blame it on the lick-hor!

**Can someone tell me exactly what the strategy would be to put myself in the best position for a clerkship. I know grades, I know writing sample, but what else? If there are good blogs about it, especially telling one what they need to do to prepare, then please share!

first_world_problems wrote:What is the placement for clerkships at Yale v. Harvard?

first_world_problems wrote:**Can someone tell me exactly what the strategy would be to put myself in the best position for a clerkship. I know grades, I know writing sample, but what else? If there are good blogs about it, especially telling one what they need to do to prepare, then please share!

first_world_problems wrote:*This message has been sponsored by first_world_problems, and she is officially dizz-er-unk! Also, I apologize for any spelling/grammatical errors--I blame it on the lick-hor!

aschup wrote:Yale.




Also, you're annoying.

bk187 wrote:

aschup wrote:Yale.




Also, you're annoying.

Richie Tenenbaum wrote:

bk187 wrote:

aschup wrote:Yale.




Also, you're annoying.

first_world_problems wrote:Hi Everyone*,

So this has been addressed a few times, but I feel my case may be slightly different. On top of that, I have more questions about the whole ordeal of choosing between Harvard and Yale.

I aspire to be a legal academic! Before you say go to Yale, let me say this: aspiring is one thing; executing is another. Because I have not started law school nor do I know much about it, I have a feeling I might change my mind--I might in fact want to go corporate and be partner aka models and bottles! Alright, but in all seriousness, the following track is what I am thinking: law school and maybe an LLM at Cambridge (3-4 years) --> clerkship CoA and/or SCOTUS (1-4 years)** --> law firm ie Wachtell (2-4 years) --> academia. Since this is an idealized version, I am sure things can change. Maybe I won't get a clerkship, maybe I won't get into a law firm, maybe....

OK, so there were some TLS and above-the-law articles about Harvard v. Yale. Here are some points: I don't care about the MBA, and I don't care about the international presence. Here is what I care about: chilling out, little competition, fawk grades (I'm past that, and I know neither grades, but Yale has that great 1st semester brilliance and no set curve), fawk location (cambridge is better but whatever), doing research on topics I like, best clerkship placement opportunities, best firm placement opportunities, etc. By the way, if anyone can direct me to statistics on clerkship placements from either Harvard or Yale, I'd really appreciate it.

And here is the caveat: I have some strong connections at Harvard because of some research. I'm a pretty sociable gal, so I don't think I'll have trouble making connections at Yale. In fact, I am willing to keep my connections at Harvard by traveling by train (~2 hours) to continue working with some Harvard faculty, so I guess what I am asking is, "Is it not possible to maintain my relationships at Harvard as a JD student at Yale?" Oh, and son-of-a-gun does Harvard have some great interdisciplinary research and multiple centers...so much so that my interests (as they stand today) are only catered to by Harvard.

Strategically, my gut feeling tells me that Yale is the best option. I think I just really wants numbers (and advice!) at this point. What is the placement for clerkships at Yale v. Harvard? Will Wachtell want a Yalie more than a Harvard grad? How much more will Yale benefit me? Can't I somehow bridge the two bastards and eat most of the pie?

Oh and just for all the people who might post the "First World Problem" memes: I am grateful for this opportunity to choose between two awesome schools, and it pains me to make such difficult decisions.

So just to recap: I aspire to do academia, I have connections at Harvard, I want the best for me long-term, I need strategy, and I am grateful for my first world problems, and I thank all for respondin'.

*This message has been sponsored by first_world_problems, and she is officially dizz-er-unk! Also, I apologize for any spelling/grammatical errors--I blame it on the lick-hor!

**Can someone tell me exactly what the strategy would be to put myself in the best position for a clerkship. I know grades, I know writing sample, but what else? If there are good blogs about it, especially telling one what they need to do to prepare, then please share!

organic muskrat wrote:Yale - for the additional reason of networking. I'd rather have strong contacts at two top law schools than "only" one.

Oh yeah: as you know, publish or perish. Shoot for >1/year in law school and do >2/year after that.

Tom Joad wrote:

Richie Tenenbaum wrote:

bk187 wrote:

aschup wrote:Yale.




Also, you're annoying.

Tom Joad wrote:

Richie Tenenbaum wrote:

bk187 wrote:

aschup wrote:Yale.




Also, you're annoying.

checkster wrote:Yale. Enjoy being the boss of these bitter TLS folk.

Ti Malice wrote:Perhaps it's rash of me to make any strong character judgments based on just a solitary message board post, but I find myself strongly hoping you'll choose Harvard.

checkster wrote:Yale. Enjoy being the boss of these bitter TLS folk.

I don't think bitterness has much to do with anything in this thread.

law school and maybe an LLM at Cambridge (3-4 years) --> clerkship CoA and/or SCOTUS (1-4 years)** --> law firm ie Wachtell (2-4 years) --> academia.

slsorhls wrote:

law school and maybe an LLM at Cambridge (3-4 years) --> clerkship CoA and/or SCOTUS (1-4 years)** --> law firm ie Wachtell (2-4 years) --> academia.

Um, no one else sees this as obvious trolling?

chimp wrote:Fenwick doesn't do OCI at Yale. Therefore, Harvard will provide you with superior career opportunities.